In Brief: Syrian Democratic Forces backed by U.S. defeats ISIS in Raqqa, hundreds killed in wave of Taliban attacks in Afghanistan, Spanish government revokes Catalan autonomy, PM Abe massively wins national election, Iraqi forces take control of Kurdish oil fields, Israel defies E.U. and will build more settlements, young conservative leader elected in Austria, populist billionaire elected in the Czech Republic, China’s President sets vision for country in 3 hour speech at Communist Party Congress, Turkish government detains thousands, dozens of police officers killed in Egypt, Somalian president announces ‘state of war’ after death toll reaches 358, 37-year-old labor party leader named PM of New Zealand.

Syria

• ISIS defeated in its capital of Raqqa
• Raqqa to be part of ‘federal Syria’
• Syrian Democratic Forces take largest oil fields from ISIS
• Syrian troops capture central Christian town recently taken by ISIS

Afghanistan

• Wave of Taliban suicide attacks kill at least 74
• Taliban attacks kill 58 in Southern Kandahar 
• Two suicide bombers attack mosques in Kabul killing at least 72 people
• Car bomb kills 15 Afghan cadets in attack on top military training center in Kabul

Spain

• Spain to revoke Catalan autonomy after regional president refused to give up independence
• Top court rules independence referendum unconstitutional, Catalans protest 
• Spanish PM urges Catalan secession leaders to back down

Japan

• Prime Minister Abe wins national elections, gets over 2/3 majority in Parliament
• Typhoon Lan kills at least 2, forces thousands to evacuate

Iraq

• Kurdish fighter pull out of disputed areas in Northern and Eastern Iraq as Iraqi forces advance
• At least 11 killed in Iraqi-Kurdish clash
• Iraqi forces take control of all oil fields operated by state-owned oil company in Kirkuk
• Thousands of Kurdish flee Kirkuk
• Kurdish demonstrator killed, 6 injured in Khanaqin

Israel

• Israel announces refusal to negotiate with Palestine if Hamas remains part of government
• Israel approves building plan for 31 settler homes in Hebron in violation of international law
• EU calls on Israel to stop plans for new West Bank settlements
• City of Jerusalem to move ahead with 176 new settler homes in predominantly Arab area of East Jerusalem 

Indonesia

• Indonesia to demand answers from U.S. after military chief denied U.S. entry

Myanmar

• Amnesty International claims Myanmar army killed hundreds of Rohingya
• Fire rips through luxury hotel in Yangon, 1 killed 

Italy

• Fragments of Florence basilica falls and kills tourist
• Northern regions of Veneto and Lombardy win autonomy votes

Zimbabwe

• World Health Organization revokes appointment of President Mugabe as ‘goodwill ambassador’

Portugal

• Wildfires kill at least 45 in suspected arson
• Portuguese minister resigns in response to fire

Philippines

• Military pushes to defeat last ISIS fighters in Marawi
• President declares Malawi liberated as battle goes on 

United Kingdom

• At least 3 dead as Storm Ophelia hits U.K.
• 4 Brits kidnapped in Nigeria’s Delta state
• Brexit negotiations stall

India

• Fire at illegal firecracker workshop kills 6 in Eastern India

Turkey

• 7 killed in coal mine collapse in Sirnak
• 18 police officers injured in bus bombing 
• 2 soldiers killed in explosion in Northern Iraq
• Turkish security forces detain more than 1,200 people in past week
• Turkish police detain leading activist at airport 
• Erdogan calls on mayors to resign
• Urged by Merkel, E.U. to cut some money earmarked for Turkey

Peru

• Congress passes bill to legalize medical marijuana

Togo

• 4 killed in Togo as protesters clash with security forces

Norway

• Norway to appoint first woman foreign minister

Uganda

• 1 dead at protest against extending Ugandan president’s rule
• Opposition leader held on murder charge after protests 

China

• In 3 hour speech, President Xi calls on Communist Party to tighten its grip on country 

Qatar

• Qatar suggests Gulf crisis hurts fight against ISIS

The United States of America

• Trump administration declines  to name China a ‘currency manipulator’
• U.S. drone strikes kill 31 on Pakistani-Afghani border
• Trump refuses to pick side in Iraqi-Kurdish dispute
• Trump to release JFK files subject to ‘further information’

Libya

• Airport in Mitiga evacuated as fighting between rival armed groups continue 

Iran

• Iran says it is ready to do business with U.S. oil and gas companies 
• Russian and Iranian diplomats to discuss Iran nuclear deal
• Iran’s Guards say missile program will accelerate despite pressure 

Venezuela

• Maduro’s Socialist party wins 17 of 23 governorships in disputed vote

Malaysia

• 3 arrested for suspected planning of beer festival bomb
• Landslide in Northwest Malaysia kills at least 11 construction workers 

Yemen

• U.S. launches attack on ISIS in Yemen kills dozens 
• Yemeni journalist denied entry to U.S. to receive international free press award

Malta

• Investigation into murder of anti-corruption journalist 
• Government offers $1.18 million for information on who killed investigative reporter 

Russia

• Putin signs decree imposing restrictions on North Korea
• Putin accuses U.S. of failing nuclear, chemical weapons treaties obligations 
• Russian opposition leader Navalny released from jail, goes directly to anti-corruption rally

Kosovo

• Kosovo urges U.S. involvement to sponsor talks with Serbia

Tunisia

• Death toll in collision between navy ship and migrant boat reaches 34

Egypt

• Militants kill 5 in attack in Sinai
• 14 police officers killed in Southwest Cairo
• Armed militants kill at least 30 police officers in Egypt’s Western desert
• 54 police officers killed in ambush in Southwest Cairo

Canada

• Quebec lawmakers pass law forcing citizens to uncover faces

Somalia

• Thousands march to pay tribute to victims of bombing 
• Presidents to announce ‘state of war’ against al Shabaab as death toll reaches 358 victims 
• At least 2 killed in car bomb outside Mogadishu
• Roadside bomb kills 7 outside Mogadishu 

Sweden

• Police station damaged in explosion north of Malmo

Poland

• Knife-wielding man kills 1, injures 9 in shopping mall, terrorism ruled out

Bosnia

• Bosnian Serbs pass resolution opposing membership in NATO

Germany

• Police conduct series of raids on Hells Angels 

New Zealand

• Jacinda Ardern to be named new Prime Minister of liberal government 

Pakistan

• Ex-Premier Sharif indicted on corruption charges 
• Taliban suicide bomber rams police truck, kills 7

Vietnam

• Police arrests dissidents accused of attempting to overthrow government 

South Africa

• 2 injured in drive-by shooting at Cape Town airport 

South Sudan

• 3 killed as rebel groups clash near Ugandan border

North Korea

• U.S. carrier patrols off Korean peninsula in warning to Pyongyang 

Austria

• Austria’s new leader says the country will stay pro-European

Colombia

• 6 ex-FARC members murdered in Narino 

Malawi

• Police arrests 140 suspected members of vigilante mobs 

Palestine

• Grieving families to be given $50,000 to drop feuds between Fatah and Hamas 

Slovenia

• President Borut Pahor wins 1st round of presidential election, will face run-off with former comedian

Czech Republic

• Populist billionaire Andrej Babis wins parliamentary election, will shift country to the right 

Argentina

• Ally of President leads Senate race in Buenos Aires province

Nigeria

• Suicide bomber kills 13 in the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri 

Ethiopia

• Ethnic clashes in the Oromiya region kill at least 11 people

Niger

• Gunmen kill 13 police officers in attack on police base

Chile

• Researchers raise doubts as to Pablo Neruda’s cause of death

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